How Can I Help You Today?

How Can I Help You Today?

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter – Wherever you are online, it’s all about networking. While we may have different networking needs and objectives. We all have something to offer which would benefit someone else and we all could use some help from time to time, even if it is as simple as a fresh perspective on our blog design or feedback on items for sale on our site. With the investment of only a few minutes, each of us has the opportunity to offer much appreciated assistance to someone else.

Even when it doesn’t seem like it, each time we connect with one another, we’re building a relationship. Depending on the nature of that contact, it may or may not be a positive one, but it is the beginning of a relationship nonetheless. It may never go any further than this, it may turn into a friendship, it may result in something more business-related. The point is, we never really know. If we don’t reach out to someone new and offer our best, we know with certainty where that will lead – nowhere.

With nothing to lose and everything to gain, I asked a simple question on Twitter a few days ago – How can I help you today? Several requests came in and many offered to help. There was a ripple effect as participants tweeted about their participation drawing others in, forging new connections along the way.

The response was so enthusiastic and genuine, I am planning to do this every Wednesday for as long as people are interested and responding.

The guidelines for participation are simple:

Be generous – Share your thoughts, feedback and expertise without an expectation of receiving something in return.

Be honest – If you see areas in which someone could improve, please note them and make recommendations wherever possible.

Be kind – Respect that you’re giving feedback on work done by people at various skills levels. We are all still learning and doing our best. Tact and kindness will go a long way!

Be specific – When asking for help, tell us exactly what you need, rather than “tell me what you think of my blog.” The same goes for offering feedback.

Be realistic – If you request something which takes more than a few minutes, it is less likely that you will get the input you seek. Asking someone to read your entire blog and let you know how they’d suggest changing it might require more time than someone is able to offer.

Be grateful – When someone offers feedback or ideas, please thank them publicly on Twitter – even if you don’t agree with their input. (Important note: do not @reply to them because very few people will see this. Rather, something like “Thanks to @someone for your help in reviewing my blog.” This way your followers get a chance to meet someone new along with you.)

Pay it forward – Offer more than you ask and don’t ask if you aren’t willing to help others.

Finally, keep in mind that if your question can be answered through a google search, perhaps you might want to search google rather than asking a question here.

22 Comments

Great post. The basic principles of hospitality and civility apply on Twitter and other social networking sites/tools. Kindness and generosity awaken those truths within our selves and our society. Your concrete examples of how to respond to specific situations on Twitter are very helpful, especially as more people are discovering this social networking tool. Your example of generosity of spirit ultimately will serve not only the Twitter community but larger society well. Thank you!

What a great day for How Can I Help? Wednesday! Thanks so much Irene for organizing this. Even though my request was to participate in a pretty obscure survey topic, I had nearly 30 survey responses just today. Fantastic!

We are on the same page Irene. I find that there are days when I have plenty of time to give freely and love doing so. I would love to see this concept grow into a continuing effort to help others unconditionally, thanks for putting it out there and please let me know if I can assist you with this project. Love it, thanks for being you!

[…] Asking for help is fair game, as long as you promise to return the favor. Don’t believe me??@IreneKoehler?reserves her Wednesdays for a weekly #howcanIhelp day, where she connects people who have […]

[…] #canihelp Wednesdays was started by Irene Koehler?as a way to leverage Twitter’s ability to help people by using the vast knowledgebase of other Twitter users.? Just tweet your question (including the #canihelp tag) before Wednesday and wait for the replies to roll in.? Or, if you are a helpful type, visit the #canihelp page to see what this week’s requests are that you might be able to answer.? […]